The mission of the Chesterfield Township Athletic Association (CTAA) is to provide fun, safe and affordable recreational athletic opportunities for the children of Township residents. Coaches are expected to teach the fundamentals of the sport and basic principles of teamwork and sportsmanship in a fun and enriching environment. Children should be taught to compete, but not to win at all costs.

II. Training.

All coaches must attend the Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. course for partial protection against civil liability.

Coaches are required to attend clinics held by the Northern Burlington Instructional Athletic Association (NBIAA) prior to the season and should encourage players to attend.

Baseball/Softball coaches are required to be certified as having completed the training program at www.baberuthcoaching.org.

III. Teaching Fundamentals.

Coaches are expected to be equipped to instruct players in the fundamentals of the sport. CTAA programs are not only designed to provide recreational opportunities for children who may not be destined for future athletic prowess, but also to provide a challenging instructional experience for more advanced players. Failure to provide strong instructional guidance to children at the recreational level will deprive those players of the growth necessary to allow them to compete at higher levels if they wish to do so. Coaches should not volunteer to coach a sport without a corresponding commitment to learn the rules and fundamentals of that sport.

Coaches should rely upon encouragement and positive reinforcement in teaching fundamentals. Harsh criticism and yelling at players for game performance is not acceptable.

IV. Sportsmanship.

Coaches should approach games professionally and should lead by example when dealing with opposing coaches, officials, parents and players by treating everyone with respect.

Coaches should focus on coaching and leave the officiating to the officials. Coaches should avoid arguments with and repeated criticism of officials. Regardless of the quality of officiating, officials are always to be treated with respect by coaches, players and parents. Coaches are responsible for the behavior of their players and the parents of those players.

Players should be taught the value of teamwork and how to be a good teammate. Criticism by players of teammates should not be tolerated.

Players should be taught to respect opposing players. Taunting, ridiculing and celebrating other players’ failures should not be tolerated.

Running up the score is inconsistent with principles of good sportsmanship. If a coach’s team is winning a game by a large margin, that coach is expected to take steps to avoid humiliation of the opposing team.

It is an express objective of the CTAA to promote a respectful and harmonious relationship between the participating townships of the NBIAA. All of these children will be attending Northern Burlington Regional Schools together and many of them will be teammates at the high school level. Coaches should bear that fact in mind and govern themselves accordingly. Coaches are expected to promote identification with a single Northern Burlington community and should refrain from instilling hostility or prejudice toward teams from other townships.

V. Safety.

Coaches should ensure that first aid equipment is present for all games and practices. Prior to any game or practice, the field/court and equipment should be surveyed to ensure a safe environment.

Coaches are responsible for monitoring all players for 100% of the time that those players are under their supervision.

After the completion of a game or practice, coaches must ensure that all players have rides home with parents or other responsible adults. Children must never be left unattended.

Coaches are responsible for ensuring that state laws regarding safety are complied with (e.g., eyewear).

VI. Communications with Parents.

Coaches should meet with parents at the beginning of the season and throughout to review mutual expectations and to establish clear lines of communication. At such meetings, coaches should review the objectives of the CTAA as outlined herein and the behavior that will be expected of them and their children. Coaches also must distribute the CTAA Guidelines for Supportive Parents.

Coaches should provide timely and effective notice to parents of all scheduled practices and games, as well as other communications as they arise (i.e., awards, cancellation of games, rescheduled games, tournament info, etc.).

VII. League Responsibilities.

The CTAA participates in the NBIAA, which includes teams from Chesterfield, Mansfield, North Hanover and Springfield. The task of organizing schedules, officials, facilities and other matters related to a league of this size is an enormous undertaking that is accomplished through many hours of volunteer work. All of this effort is wasted, however, if coaches are not acting in concert with NBIAA initiatives. Therefore, attendance at all CTAA meetings during the season is mandatory for all coaches. Likewise, NBIAA-called meetings for coaches are also mandatory.

Coaches may be asked to work scoring tables or to engage in other necessary support functions during the season. In volunteering to coach, a coach also volunteers to assist with such tasks. During tournament time, such tasks may become mandatory.

If coaches have league-related problems or issues (e.g., complaints about officials or other coaches), those matters are to be communicated to the CTAA President or the CTAA Coordinator for the sport in question. CTAA officials are responsible for communications with the NBIAA and coaches are not to communicate directly with the NBIAA.

VIII. Courts and Fields.

When sharing a gym, coaches are expected to keep their players on their side of the court unless scrimmaging. There are plenty of distractions that come with sharing a gym and keeping each team to their half will help minimize those distractions.

Coaches may not run over on their practice time. If a coach must start late for some reason, that coach forfeits his/her own practice time and may not invade the practice time scheduled afterward.

Coaches should not start practices earlier than scheduled. Coaches may arrive early to prepare the court/field for practice (e.g., adjusting the basket), but should not start practice early. Scheduled times are generally coordinated with the school or township and are set for various reasons that may not be readily apparent. If we do not follow those boundaries, it will jeopardize the CTAA’s access to such facilities in the future.

Coaches are responsible for the preparation of the playing field (e.g., raking and lining the field), but are encouraged to enlist all parents to assist with field preparation during the season.

Coaches are responsible for returning all equipment that is taken from the shed immediately after using it. Other teams rely upon the use of the equipment.

Coaches should follow all rules for Chesterfield and non-Chesterfield courts and fields.

IX. Scheduling.

Coaches should first try to switch their games with two other scheduled teams for game change requests. As long as it does not require changing officials you may call coaches directly to make arrangements for a switch.

Other than schedule changes arranged with other coaches as outlined above, any other requests to change practice or game schedules must be cleared through the scheduling coordinator appointed by the CTAA Board (currently Board Member-At-Large Diane Loitfellner). The scheduling coordinator will endeavor to accommodate specific requests for scheduling modifications to the extent possible, but final determinations shall be in the sole and absolute discretion of the scheduling coordinator. Coaches’ flexibility and understanding in these matters is greatly needed and appreciated.

X. Coverage.

If any coach will be away for more than a day during the season, he/she must provide a point of contact to the CTAA (name, phone number and email address) of someone who will be responsible for the team while away. This includes communicating to the parents, running practices, and attending mandatory meetings.

XI. Equipment.

Coaches must return all uniforms and equipment within one week after the end of the season.

XII. Feedback from Parents.

Parents will be asked to complete coach review forms in order to provide constructive feedback to coaches and CTAA officials. Coaches will be given a summary review of the feedback received but will not be given access to individual reviews submitted.